COVER-Justice for Justine: Investigation 'very active' in hit and run

In May, Justine Swartz Abshire's parents increased the award for information leading to an arrest in her death from $10,000 to $50,000.

From Charlottesville, the path to Barboursville is picturesque. Along Route 20 North, leading into the small town best known for its ruins and eponymous winery, white split rail fences run for miles beside verdant fields backed by rolling mountains. Secondary roads meander past horses, ponds, and century-old houses. But though the roads can be a driver's delight during the day, they are also narrow, winding, and, in the middle of the night, dark and lonely. Taylorsville Road is such a place.

Taylorsville Road curves west through woods for less than a mile, past a sprinkling of modest houses and trailers in various states of repair, before reaching the Greene County line. On November 3, 2006, sometime close to 1:40am, the body of a young woman was discovered along the Orange County portion of this road, the apparent victim of a hit and run.

Her husband– the closest thing to a witness so far– says her car had broken down and she'd called him to come pick her up. When he arrived, he says, he discovered her body in the road and called 911.

No hit-and-run driver has ever been found, and seven months later, the circumstances of Justine Swartz Abshire's death remain a mystery.

Her devastated parents, however, say they won't rest until they know how their daughter, a 27-year-old kindergarten teacher and newlywed they describe as a "homebody," died alone, away from home, in the middle of the night. Two weeks ago, they increased the reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in Justine's death from $10,000 to $50,000.

"Somebody knows something," says Justine's father, Steve Swartz. He and Justine's mother, Heidi Swartz, hope the increased reward may elicit new information, but they fear the answer to the unsolved crime may lie with someone their daughter knew well.

In an exclusive discovery, the Hook has learned that police may be interested in an SUV stolen from a Ruckersville car dealership and later recovered from a nearby storage unit.

An investigation stalled

"I about thought he'd pound the door down," says Shirley Stevens, who lives less than 200 yards from where Justine's body was discovered. She's referring to approximately 1:40am on November 3 when a man named Eric Abshire was banging at the door of Stevens' tidy trailer. Stevens' 18-year-old granddaughter, Amber Lamb, woke her grandmother and then answered the door.

"He said something like, 'I think my wife is dead. Call 911,'" Stevens recalls. Stevens says she didn't go outside, but she saw Abshire standing on the deck with his hands in his pockets while Lamb phoned for help. The recording of that call, released to the Hook by Orange County Rescue, contains no background conversation, and Lamb could not be reached for comment. She has since moved away, according to her grandmother, and she has neither phone nor email.

A black 1997 Ford Expedition was discovered at this storage facility, just a mile from the scene of the crime.PHOTO BY WILL WALKER

Next door to Stevens, Aubrey Collier, a diabetic, awoke to take his insulin around 2am that night to find blue lights and police officers on the street outside. He called next door and spoke to Lamb, who told him about the incident.

Although he didn't venture too close to the scene of the crime, Collier says Justine's car was parked "200 or 300 yards" away from her body, east down Taylorsville Road, very close to Collier's son's driveway and another house. He could see that Justine's body was lying across the middle of the road, and he wondered why, if she'd been looking for help, she'd have bypassed houses close to her car to trudge along an unpopulated section of a dark road.

"That didn't make sense to me," he says. Nor did the notion that the car that hit her might have thrown her a great distance– and around at least one turn. "It was too far," he says.

Her parents wonder the same things, but they say anyone who knew Justine would also wonder what she'd been doing out so late in the first place.

First baby

Justine was born February 6, 1979 in Minneapolis, where the family lived until moving to Memphis when Justine was 11.

"She was the kind of first baby that makes a mother want a houseful," says Heidi Swartz, recalling her daughter's "wild blond hair" and "bubbly giggle." Justine, she says, was a "sweet, sensitive little girl" who always loved animals. After Memphis, the Swartzes moved again– this time to Central Virginia, where Justine attended Albemarle High School for her sophomore year, then finished at Western Albemarle.

The moves, her parents admit, were difficult for Justine.

"Her general nature was to be a little shy and reserved," her mother says, pointing out that sometimes very pretty young girls aren't easily accepted by their peers.

"There was a lot of envy, you might say," adds Mr. Swartz, who works in the telecommunications field. "That was a little bit difficult at times."

Another thing that may have set her apart from her peers: her disinterest in the "fast lane."

When Justine started driving, the family lived on twisting Route 53, but Justine's maturity put her mother's mind at ease. "Most parents worry that their kids are going to go to a party and drink and drive," she says. "I worried about flat tires."

Justine had a younger sister, Lauren, now 26 and living in Pennsylvania. She says she and Justine– two years and three days apart– were close.

The Ford Expedition was stolen on October 29 2006 from this dealership at the corner of routes 29 and 33 in Ruckersville, one mile from Spotswood Storage.PHOTO BY WILL WALKER

"We would fight, pull hair, steal each other's clothes, mess with each other's rooms," she says. But the spats never lasted long: "I don't think we could ever go longer than half a day being mad before we were on to some new adventure."

If Justine had any social difficulties in high school, they ended when she arrived as a freshman at Hollins College and met her assigned roommate, Holly Boardman.

"We got along perfectly," says Boardman. "We never partied," she says. "We didn't drink anything but Sprite. We never once did drugs." They did, however, love to go dancing. "That," says Boardman, "was our big thing."

The roommates each had a long-distance boyfriend, but at Hollins, a private women's school near Roanoke, the two were inseparable, waking up at the same time, eating every meal together, scheduling their classes so that their free time would coincide, and generally going to bed by 9pm.

"Our nickname was 'the 80-year-old couple,'" laughs Boardman, now an entrepreneur and married mother living in Oregon.

But despite their intense friendship, halfway through their second year at Hollins, Boardman says, Justine decided to transfer to a school with a stronger business program.

"It was one million percent devastating," says Boardman. Though the onetime roommates couldn't see each other every day after Justine left, the pair continued to talk daily and to spend every weekend together for nearly a year while Justine took business prerequisites at Piedmont Virginia Community College.

In January 1999, Boardman and the Swartzes agree, Justine began to change. In the semester before she transferred to James Madison University– the school from which she would graduate in 2002– Justine got a part-time job at Lowe's to help pay her expenses. Also employed by the hardware big-box on 29 North: a manager named Eric Abshire.

The house where Justine and Eric Abshire lived at 5553 Fredericksburg Road.PHOTO BY WILL WALKER

Tension

"She told me she had met someone shortly after she began dating him," says her mother. The Swartzes were happy to have their daughter back in town and say Justine was often at their Western Albemarle home.

"We did 'Mom dinners' on Sunday night," says Mrs. Swartz. "I'd make 'mom' food: roast chicken and mashed potatos." Both daughters were "free to invite all their friends," says Mrs. Swartz. That included Eric Abshire.

"I continually asked her to bring him over," she recalls, but he never accepted the invitations. Finally, in August 1999, when the parents were preparing to move to New York, Mrs. Swartz pressed Justine to introduce them to Eric, and Justine revealed something she may have feared her parents would frown upon: Eric was the father of two little girls. But if the Swartzes were surprised by the revelation, they insist they were not put off by it.

"We're pretty open minded," says Mr. Swartz. "Ultimately, all we wanted was for her to be happy. If this was the guy who was going to make her happy, we were for it."

In spite of the mother's plea for an introduction, the parents moved without meeting Eric, and although Justine made several trips to see her parents in New York, Eric Abshire was never with her. Finally, in June 2000, when the family was moving again– this time to Florida– Mrs. Swartz arranged to meet Justine and Eric at a restaurant in Harrisonburg. The first impression of Eric Abshire, she says, left something to be desired.

"He was not very open," she says, "not outgoing." Still, "They were very serious," she says, and she was determined to give him a chance.

During the time her parents were living in Florida, Justine– who had changed her major to education and eventually began working as a kindergarten teacher at Culpeper's Emerald Hill Elementary School– visited them several times. Eric joined her only once, and again, did very little talking.

"He was hard to get to know," says Mr. Swartz. "I think that Eric is comfortable with a fixed circle of friends, and he doesn't seem to like to go outside that circle."

As time went on, the Swartzes noticed a change in Justine.

"Once she became part of that circle," says her father, "there seemed to be a change in our communication with her." Once chatty and open, Justine became "more sensitive," they say– particularly when it came to Eric.

"If we questioned the wisdom of something that he or they were thinking about, she'd be defensive," says Mrs. Swartz. "Her life became very compartmentalized. She had her school, her work, her family, and she had him. There wasn't much crossover."

Her former roommate also noticed a change. Holly Boardman says she and Justine regularly bought each other presents, even after Justine moved. And so when Justine was settling into a new apartment at James Madison, Boardman visited and brought her flowers. But Justine wouldn't accept them.

Twice– in June 1998, and July 2002–Abshire was charged with misdemeanor assault and battery in Charlottesville. Both times, the alleged victims were male, and the charges were dropped. But a malicious wounding charge from July 2002 was certified to a grand jury before it was eventually dropped after the victim moved away and left no forwarding address.

In addition to numerous driving violations from nearly every county in this area, Abshire was charged and found guilty of trespassing on Kroger property in January 1998, and of resisting arrest in that same incident.

The call

Last year, two nights after Halloween, the phone rang in Steve and Heidi Swartz's home in Chattanooga. The couple awakened quickly, disoriented by the 3am disturbance. Mr. Swartz answered the phone, and the nightmare of November 3, 2006 began.

"The devastation," says Swartz of such an event, "drops on you like a steel beam out of the sky."

As he struggled to absorb the news of his daughter's death, Swartz asked to speak with Eric. Jesse said his brother couldn't come to the phone and described him as "hysterical." Swartz asked Jesse to have Eric call him when he was able.

The stunned parents got up and dressed and, "trying to hold it together," began making arrangements to return to Central Virginia.

Sometime before dawn, Eric Abshire finally did call them, having returned to the small cinderblock house he shared with Justine at 5553 Fredericksburg Road, approximately five miles from Taylorsville Road.

Swartz recalls that conversation: "I asked, 'What exactly happened?'" Eric admitted he and Justine had argued earlier that night about Eric's mother's health, Swartz says, recalling the conversation. When Eric told Justine he didn't want to talk about his mother, and that he preferred to be left alone, Justine said, "Well, I'll leave you alone," took her car keys, and walked out of the house without a coat.

Swartz says Abshire hasn't told him what time that argument happened and hasn't been any more specific about the nature of the fight– or why Justine would be so upset over her mother-in-law's health.

Abshire told Swartz that around 1am he got a call from Justine on her cell phone telling him she'd had car trouble and that she needed him to come get her. Although the temperature at 1am that night had dropped to just 35 degrees, and even though he had a car, he set out on his motorcycle to find his wife.

When Abshire got to Taylorsville Road, Swartz says Eric told him, he discovered Justine's body in the road. Abshire told Swartz that he didn't know for sure at first if she was dead, but he thought she was.

"He said he sat down in the road and held her for some period of time before, at some point, realizing he needed to call for help," Swartz recalls. Abshire said he then went to a house nearby and banged on the door.

Justine's body was discovered on Taylorsville Road, several hundred yards from her car.PHOTO BY WILL WALKER

Swartz asked why– if Justine had been able to call Abshire from her cell phone, and if they had the same cell phone provider– Abshire didn't use his own cell to call for help immediately.

Abshire's answer: "He said he was so panicked that he didn't think to use his cellphone, and he didn't see hers," says Swartz.

Over the days, weeks, and months following Justine's death, Swartz says, he tried to get Abshire to be more specific about the argument, about the timing, and about his decision to go pick up Justine on a motorcycle she'd frequently expressed her fear of riding.

"It was not like her to go off in the middle of nowhere," says Swartz. "If they'd had an argument, and it was of sufficient intensity, I can imagine her leaving." But he says she wouldn't drive around aimlessly and end up on a road Abshire told him she'd only been on once before: "She would go to a friend's house or to a hotel," he says.

"She was the kind of first baby that makes a mother want a houseful," says Heidi Swartz.PHOTO COURTESY STEVE AND HEIDI SWARTZ

The Swartzes haven't been able to answer other questions: why did Justine, who had taken a self-defense class and was "very safety conscious," leave her trunk open and her purse and keys in the car before walking down the road? Why didn't she put up flares? Adding to the Swartzes' doubts: Justine was not feeling well and although she had attended her night class at UVA, where she was working on her master's degree, she had already called in sick to work at the elementary school for the next day. Her parents later learned she had taken cold medicine, which her mother says made her drowsy.

The state police were the first law enforcement agency to respond to the 911 call, and they have handled the investigation since then. Special Agent Mike Jones declines comment on all details of the case, saying only that the investigation is "very active." In early April, the Swartzes asked Abshire if he would take a lie detector test, "to put our minds at ease," says Mr. Swartz. Abshire refused, claiming a lawyer advised him against it. The Swartzes haven't talked to him since.

If a lawyer advised Abshire against a lie detector, perhaps that same attorney has advised him not to give any more interviews.

The Hook left him repeated messages on his cell phone– which has a voice mail recording identifying the phone as his– but none of the calls were returned.

His last statement to the press may have been the one broadcast May 21 when an NBC 29 reporter reached him.

"I can tell you what happened up until the point she left the house," Abshire said in the recorded audio-only interview. "After that, you know, it's... I have no knowledge of anything once she left the house."

NBC29 also asked Abshire if there was "any reason to believe you may have killed her?"

"No, not at all," he replied, "and I don't appreciate the accusations or questions, ma'am."

Hidden Expedition

There was nothing exceptional about the black 1997 Ford Expedition for sale at Seminole Auto Sales in Ruckersville– at least not until it was taken from the lot in the wee hours of October 29, 2006, five days before Justine Abshire died.

The dealership reported it stolen later that morning, and didn't hear about the car again for about two weeks, when, sometime in the week before Thanksgiving, it was discovered in a closed but unlocked bay at nearby Spotswood Self-Storage on Toms Road.

"When you're in the self-storage business, you get all sorts of surprises," says Roland Pittman, owner of the storage business now called Ruckersville Storage.

Pittman says he was patrolling the facility in November, opening unrented units to "see if they needed cleaning." When he pulled up one door of an unrented unit that should have been empty, he saw the Expedition and called the police.

Pittman says the vehicle appeared to be undamaged, and the key was not inside. "Someone had just stolen it and used it for a joyride," he believed. "They had to get rid of it and that was a good place to put it."

The scant 70 miles added between the theft and the car's return suggest it wasn't much of a joyride.

By that time, the investigation into Justine's mysterious death had begun, and there were a few curious details about this particular vehicle.

First, the fenced but unmanned storage unit where it was discovered is just over a mile from where Justine was found. But there was something even more surprising than the location.

Someone had spent some time looking at this particular SUV on the dealership lot "a few days to a week before it was stolen," says salesperson Mike Marks. Marks says the eager auto shopper was Eric Abshire, who had an acquaintance working for Seminole Auto at that time.

And Marks recalls another detail from that day.

"One of the keys got lost," says Marks. "It just so happened that the day the key disappeared was the day Eric Abshire was up here looking."

Hard to know

Family and friends say Abshire was difficult to get to know, but they readily concede that Justine truly stood by her man. Justine and Eric broke up several times briefly, say the Swartzes, but each time they reconciled.

Younger sister Lauren says Justine was impressed with his work ethic at Lowe's, and that she felt he was a "strong" person. And while some people are put off by dating someone with children, Lauren says, Abshire's two daughters were a plus for Justine.

"I think those two girls with Eric reminded her of us with our dad," says Lauren, recalling conversations she had with her big sister about her step-children and Justine's hope that she and Abshire would have children of their own.

Justine and Abshire dated for more than seven years before they married on May 28, 2006. Yet her parents say even the joy of planning a wedding didn't bring them closer to their son-in-law. In fact, they say, their concerns escalated before the wedding.

In early December 2005, when Justine told her parents she was engaged, her mother thought the couple would wed in summer 2006 because, as a teacher, Justine would have summer free for the wedding and honeymoon. Instead, Justine told her parents Eric insisted the wedding should be in May.

At first, her mother says, Justine was absorbed in the details of planning, but as the date grew closer, her interest waned.

"About four or six weeks before the wedding, there was a huge shift in her attitude," says Mrs. Swartz. "She wasn't getting things done" In fact, Mr. Swartz adds, two weeks before the wedding Justine hadn't ordered a cake, hadn't picked up her dress, and hadn't even finished sending out invitations.

Her behavior so concerned her parents that they made an unannounced trip to Barboursville to assure her that if she was having second thoughts, she shouldn't worry about the complication of canceling the wedding or the money already spent. They called to let her know they were coming when they were already on the way.

"She was very angry with us," says her mother, who was particularly bothered by the fact that Abshire was "nowhere to be found," despite the fact that the Swartzes' visit lasted the entire weekend.

"It seemed to me that as a young couple in love, if he thought that her family was interfering," Mrs. Swartz says, "he would have been at her side saying, 'We're really committed.'"

"I had the feeling that when we went up there, she was angry with us for showing up because it was interfering with something else that may have been going on," says Mr. Swartz.

Nevertheless, the wedding took place at the Mark Addy Inn in Nellysford, and wedding pictures show the couple smiling, and Justine, in a long white dress and veil, dancing with her father. But the Swartzes say signs of problems in Justine's relationship lingered.

The day after the ceremony, the extended family gathered again to celebrate with a long-planned dinner. The groom, however, didn't attend. "Eric decided to go off and ride motorcycles with his friends and left Justine with us," says Mrs. Swartz. "It struck us as odd."

When Justine and Eric were together that weekend, "you could feel the tension," her mother says. Once Eric had left with his friends, however, "she was like the Justine I knew when she was a child," Mrs. Swartz recalls, "charming, laughing, funny, thoughtful."

A month after the wedding, Justine drove alone to Chattanooga to see her parents. It's a visit her mother now especially cherishes.

At the couple's May 28, 2006 wedding, "You could feel the tension," says Heidi Swartz.PHOTO COURTESY STEVE AND HEIDI SWARTZ

"I recognized my daughter again," she says. Justine helped her mother in the cooking boutique she owns, and Mrs. Swartz says, "We had a wonderful time."

That was the last time the Swartzes saw their daughter.

A new life

It's no secret that when a wife dies or disappears under mysterious circumstances, the husband is often the prime suspect, as Scott Peterson and O.J. Simpson attest

But the Swartzes say that while they are bothered by inconsistencies in Abshire's story and by his refusal to discuss the night of Justine's death in more detail, they are open to any possible explanation about what happened to Justine and hope he was not involved.

How is Abshire handling the stress of his wife's death and the investigation? Although many questions about his behavior have been raised, he is a man who has endured not only the death of his wife, but who also recently lost his mother. Alice Abshire died February 27 at the age of 57, according to a Daily Progress obituary.

Despite the Hook's repeated calls to Abshire and to numerous of his friends and family members, none were willing to comment. Several of them, however, left messages and memories of Justine on a memorial website her parents created, justineabshire.com.

"I can hardly put into words how much I miss her and how much I wish she were here," wrote Jill Madison, whose husband, Mark Madison, is Abshire's cousin. "We had so many plans together, from vacations to ganging up on our husbands, to living on adjoining properties, to raising our kids together as one big, happy family," she wrote.

The mother of Abshire's two daughters also chimed in.

"I did not know you, Justine, but my daughters loved you very much," wrote Allison Crawford, who lives in Ruckersville. "They miss you very much and talk about you often. It sounds like you were a very special person, and I am deeply sorry that you are gone."

"I pray you will be comforted in knowing that although her sojourn on earth was all too brief, your daughter made a difference in my granddaughter's life," wrote the grandmother of one of Justine's students.

Similar sentiments were shared at Justine's standing-room-only memorial service on November 7, 2006 at Preddy Funeral Home in Gordonsville.

"You're never in a million years prepared to attend a memorial service for your child," says Mrs. Swartz. Seeing her daugher's tiny students sitting there, "just took my breath away," she recalls, describing Justine as "endlessly patient and endlessly nurturing."

"The real tragedy of her death is that the world needs more people like her," she adds, "not less."

Lauren says Justine's devotion to her students was complete, but that she wasn't above a good laugh either, and the two often traded stories about their jobs.

"They had show and tell day, and the kids were supposed to bring something from home," Lauren recalls. "This one kid, when it came time for show and tell, he went over to brown lunch bags and pulled out a particular one."

It wasn't lunch.

"He had got on the toilet, taken poop out, and brought it to school because he thought it was cool," laughs Lauren, who couldn't provide a story that could compete from her communications job.

"She always had tons of cards and pictures, secret small admirers," says Lauren, who last saw her sister in September. Lauren, then recently engaged, asked Justine to be the matron of honor at her April 2007 wedding, and the two went wedding dress shopping. "It means a lot that we got to have that experience," she says.

Along the berm on Taylorsville Road, a small memorial remembers Justine. Pink and white artificial butterflies and flowers, and an angel wearing a rosary mark the spot where her body was found. A few feet away, taped to a tree, is a reward sign, encased in plastic but still fraying and worn by time.

Her parents, however, say time won't erode their resolve to find Justine's killer.

"Nothing is ever going to be the same in our lives," says her mother. "We've lost our child; kindergarteners lost a great teacher. It's the not knowing...."

"The loss," adds her husband, "goes on and on."

The online version of this story has been corrected to reflect Justine Swartz Abshire's correct birthdate, which was incorrect in the print version.–ed.

#

From her earliest years, Justine loved animals.PHOTO COURTESY STEVE AND HEIDI SWARTZ

"She had a sensitive, caring, nurturing personality," says Steve Swartz, dancing with Justine at her wedding."She was a lot less self absorbed and self centered than most of us." .PHOTO COURTESY STEVE AND HEIDI SWARTZ

74 comments

Curious reader June 7th, 2007 | 2:19pm

Interesting story, but it doesn't say anything about the cause of death - was this information ever released?

Curioius June 11th, 2007 | 3:49pm

I am just curious as to why the parents seem to be gearing this invesigation towards the husband. It sounds like they were not fond of Mr. Abshire from the get go, so maybe this was why he did not visit and wasn't around when they came came to visit(completly by suprise). It sounds like they didn't like the idea of him having children and maybe held this agains him. As for the change in the daughter, maybe she was in love and found it difficult to communciate with parents about the person she planned to marry due to the fact that they were resentful of him (so it sounds). This could be the cause of a LOT of stress for her and him.

Susana June 11th, 2007 | 4:28pm

I graduated from WAHS with Justine, and she was an AWESOME person. May this article help bring justice!

Interesting June 12th, 2007 | 9:04am

I would have to agree with her parents. This is their daughter that has been killed and it sounds to me they have realistic concerns. After reading what is said in the article, it sounds to me that some things are not adding up; although I would hope if her husband had nothing to do with it. I hope they find the answers they need. This is a very tragic story.

Justice June 12th, 2007 | 10:47am

Any well informed indvidiual should know that a person/parent can not focus an investigation. This must be done by the county/state government agencies where any crime has been committed. Therefore, whomever says that her "parents seem to be gearing the investigation towards her husband" should know that this and any/all criminal investigations are done by and through the government. Government agencies only see fit to proceed with investigations if/when there is cause for concern/questions.

I do believe after reading this artical that what her parents are asking for is for clarification on some issues/questions as well as for him to take a lie detector examination.

Annoyed June 12th, 2007 | 4:39pm

First let me start by saying that anyone who has ever worked in the legal field knows that Attorneys never recommend for anyone to take a lie detector test. It is a no win situation. If he passes they will just say he knew how to fool it and if he was a little nervous (who wouldn't be having all that stuff hooked up to you) and failed they would say he was guilty even if he isn't. The thing about reading a story is you believe what you read because well it's in print so it must be true. Right? As you read the story ask yourself a few questions, Do you enjoy visiting your in-laws or do you do what I do and tell my parents my husband is working whenever I go visit. My parents never liked my husband because he came from an upper class family up north and we are just country folk. I think Justine's parents always felt Eric was beneath their daughter. They talk about violations in several counties....who hasn't had a speeding ticket; it doesn't make you a bad person. How many men do you know out there that want to talk about their feelings ... Especially when they just left their dying mothers bedside who he loved very much. The story written is designed by grieving parents who wants to put the blame of their daughters death somewhere and on the son-in-law they never really liked is a good place. The article doesn't mention that Eric has been questioned several times by police, vehicles and home searched and NOTHING in his story has changed and nothing has been found linking him to the crime. He also is the one who posted the fliers that you see in just about every store and business in the area. Regarding the vehicle that is mentioned stolen from the same lot that Eric & Justine had visted, what isn't mentioned is Justine and Eric had gone there to test drive this car and the employee couldn't find the key. Eric and Justine never entered the building. They waited outside for the man to return w/ the key. He couldn't find the key and Kevin, an employee, said he would have one made and to come back another day. They went 2 or 3 additional times to try to test drive this car. The car was then stolen at a later date. So the key was already missing the first day they went to test drive the car and it wasn't stolen until later. HOw many other people had visted that lot that day. If he stole the vehicle how did he hide it from Justine and if he had hid it in that storage shed where it was found do you really think that he left his house after his wife called, drove his motorcyle to the stoarage shed, got the truck, drove back to where Justine was, hit her, drove back to the shed got the motorcyle and drove back to where justine was to find the body. That just does not make sense. There was also no mention of there being any damage to the front end of that vehicle. As far as Eric not using his cell phone, I don't know how many of you live on back country roads but I do and I can tell you there are "dead spots" where if my car broke down I would have to walk a small distance to get a signal. Maybe that was why Justine was so far from her car and her cell phone was found not far from her. Just a few things to think about. Justine was an incredible woman and had the sweetest voice and smile of anyone I knew. I never thought it to be fair that GOD takes the good ones so young. I do hope her killer is caught and prosecuted to the furthest extent of the law. I hope her parents and Eric find some type of peace.

Courteney Stuart June 12th, 2007 | 5:06pm

Dear Annoyed,

If you're willing to offer that perspective on the record, I'd love to include it in a future article. Please feel free to contact me at 295-8700 ext. 236

Thanks for reading and commenting.

Stolen car connection? June 12th, 2007 | 9:22pm

So...did the stolen car run anybody over? Whether or not a car hit someone is very easy to determine...even Maybury police could figure that out.

Dents? Tissue/Fibers? Evidence of pressure washing? The police likely already know if the car hit someone or not, that's part of the information not being released at this time.

Stolen Car June 13th, 2007 | 9:12am

Dear Connection:
My understanding is that she was hit and thrown by a car and not run over which means there should be some front end damage. I understand that there wasn't any front end damage on the vehicle. I think it is considered a vehicle of interest because it was the same car that they went to test drive but was unable to do so because they couldn't find the key. The fact is if they had any evidence on the vehicle that implicated Mr. Abshire they would have arrested him by now. I think that the detectives are stumped just like everyone else. This was a freak tragic accident that happened in the middle of the night on a back country road with no witnesses. The only people that know what happened is that driver and Justine. I had heard that a car was found not long after the accident that had front end damage and had been set on fire, which sounds like a cover up to me. Was this ever thoroughly looked into? I just hope that the detectives don’t focus so hard on Mr. Abshire that they dismiss other possible leads.

Alarmed June 13th, 2007 | 9:25am

I find it funny that in your article you mentioned that Eric's family was tight lipped. But yet you didn't contact his many Aunts and Uncles. Also you did talk to his grandmother but none of that was written, WHY? Justine's parents made it sound like Eric had nothing to do with the wedding arrangements when in fact Eric was on the front line helping Justine. He even went as far as making hair appointments for the girls in the wedding party. As for the day after the wedding Eric and several of his cousin's and their wives/fiances stayed and helped clean up and then just hung out until about 5 or 6. You also have to know that Eric has said everything he knows. As for the article so much for making positive reporting for Eric!!

the truth will come out June 13th, 2007 | 9:57am

Poor Eric HA! If he loved Justine so much he should be willing to help her parents no matter what the issues are. You put all that behind you and focus on your wife. As to his story, how hard is it for him not to change it? He hasn't said much. Just like at Justine's funeral, nothing to say, just sat there chomping on gum with no sadness at all on his face. Yes, the truth will come out.

As far as damage to the car--maybe it did not hit her just went over her.

The running around part-- didn't need to when you have help.

Who knows what the truth is but it will come out and the person will pay for taking such a loving and caring person away from so many people who truly loved her.

I'm not a grieving parent or related to Justine. I do know that none of this makes sense. It seems
Eric is not to worried about who did it or what happened. He should be willing to do whatever it takes to find out what happened. Anyone can put up some paper signs on a pole. How hard is that?

I truly believe the truth will come out!

annoyed at annoyed, by justice June 13th, 2007 | 10:21am

Dear Annoyed:

As far as your comments regarding Eric Abshire's speeding tickets, I am perplexed. What you stated was "they talk about violations in several counties....who hasn't had a speeding ticket; it doesn't make you a bad person." But, after once again reviewing the article, what is stated is "Twice-- in June 1998, and July 2002--Abshire was charged with misdemeanor assault and battery in Charlottesville. Both times, the alleged victims were male, and the charges were dropped. But a malicious wounding charge from July 2002 was certified to a grand jury before it was eventually dropped after the victim moved away and left no forwarding address."

In addition to numerous driving violations from nearly every county in this area, Abshire was charged and found guilty of trespassing on Kroger property in January 1998, and of resisting arrest in that same incident." Therefore, it appears to me, that Mr. Eric Abshire has much more to hide than simple speeding tickets.

Courteney Stuart June 13th, 2007 | 10:22am

To the people posting above and anyone who knows Eric Abshire:

As I said in an earlier post, I would be very happy to include any information you have but I need someone to be willing to go on the record. As I said in the article, no one I reached was willing. Some relatives do not have listed numbers or answering machines. My conversation with his grandmother happened after our presstime and is included in an article this week. I would also like to speak with Eric, who has not returned my calls. I'm simply reporting facts as I uncover them, and clearly there's more to the story than I've reported thus far. I agree that Eric's side has not been fully told, and I would greatly appreciate your assistance in doing that.

Looks like Eric does not need a lawyer with Annoyed in his pocket.....

Looking for Logic June 13th, 2007 | 12:11pm

Regarding the comments by Annoyed about the vehicle in question. I am very curious about a dealership which cannot provide a key to a potential buyer, especially one who was probably known to them, after repeated visits to the lot. Something about this does not make sense...unless the owner of the dealership doesn't follow business practices used elsewhere in the country, or unless this is not an accurate portrayal of the situation.

Skeptical June 13th, 2007 | 12:15pm

I would go with the not an accurate portrayal of the situation!!!!

Confused June 13th, 2007 | 12:40pm

I am just wondering what happened to innocent until proven guilty? It seems as though a lot of weekend law jockys have already convicted the man. I don't think anyone can really make an informed comment/decision about this situation, unless they have all of the facts laid out in front of them. Which, just FYI to some of you who are already convinced, you don't have access to. Including Justine's parents. I truly feel for them, I cannot, nor do I want to imagine what they are going through. However, they may not be the only victims here. I think some of you may want to keep this in mind.

An Observer June 13th, 2007 | 1:07pm

Not everyone wears their emotions for the world to see but grives in private. Not many peopl saw Eric crying in his room when Justine was killed, but I was one to see this. When her parents arrived at Eric's house I saw no emotion from them, and I thought that odd, if it had been my child I would have been a basket case. The only time I saw emotion was at the memorial servce when Justine's mother spoke. I can't imagine anything worse than losing a child, especially in such a tragic way, so this shows that people do not display emotion for all to see. I know that her parents are griving and want closure but so does Eric.

I also noticed a Halloween card that Justine had given Eric, she told him how much she loved him and thanked him for her new family and for the kitten he had just brought her.

Annoyed June 13th, 2007 | 1:19pm

Dear Confused.. AMEN!!!

Well it seems as if I got under the skin of a few readers but the fact is that Eric has told the people who count, the detectives, all that he knows and it is up to them to figure out what happened after she left. I am sure he is tired of repeating the same story over and over again because each time he tells it he relives it.

Dear Skeptical, Maybe I do work for an attorney and that is how I know all of this

Dear Looking for logic, I would say that that is a good question to ask this dealership.

Dear Justice, Do you know the circumstances surrounding the A&B charge and malicious wounding charge, no, but i do and it isn't as severe as it is being portrayed. After all, the charges were dropped. and trspassing on a kroger parking lot is a far stretch from killing your wife and you are taling about 9 years ago when he was in his early 20's.

Dear truth will come out: I don't know what funeral you attended but i stood hugging Eric in the hall as he cried. No, he NOR Justin's parents cried through the actual service does that mean that her parents should be suspect of something because they weren't crying the entire time. They all had been crying for several days and were all pretty numb. I thought they all held themselves together very well.

Annoyed June 13th, 2007 | 1:22pm

Dear Confused.. AMEN!!!

Well it seems as if I got under the skin of a few readers but the fact is that Eric has told the people who count, the detectives, all that he knows and it is up to them to figure out what happened after she left. I am sure he is tired of repeating the same story over and over again because each time he tells it he relives it.

Dear Skeptical, Maybe I do work for an attorney and that is how I know all of this

Dear Looking for logic, I would say that that is a good question to ask this dealership.

Dear Justice, Do you know the circumstances surrounding the A&B charge and malicious wounding charge, no, but i do and it isn't as severe as it is being portrayed. After all, the charges were dropped. and trspassing on a kroger parking lot is a far stretch from killing your wife and you are taling about 9 years ago when he was in his early 20's. It's not like Justine was unaware of any of these things. She was in court with him the entire time. She chose not to tell her parents everything.

Dear truth will come out: I don't know what funeral you attended but i stood hugging Eric in the hall as he cried. No, he NOR Justin's parents cried through the actual service does that mean that her parents should be suspect of something because they weren't crying the entire time. They all had been crying for several days and were all pretty numb. I thought they all held themselves together very well.

Annoyed June 13th, 2007 | 1:33pm

And as a last note it isn't like Eric hid ANY of this from Justine. She stood by his side during all of this. She CHOSE not to tell her parents everything. Does your parents know everything that goes on in your marriage / relationships?

Alarmed June 13th, 2007 | 2:11pm

To add to An Observers comment. Eric stayed after everyone left the memorial service and asked his cousin to go back in with him where he cried his eyes out. I'm sure if you (the truth will come out)noticed he had his girls sitting on both sides of him. So for their sake he had to hold it together.
For Eric and Justine's parents I do hope this will soon come to an end.

Looking for Logic June 13th, 2007 | 2:15pm

Referring to the post by Annoyed. Unfortunately whether Eric has "told the people who count, the detectives, all that he knows" seems to be the sticking point.
Referring to the post by Confused. This is a post and no one is required to have all the facts before stating an opinion. If it were otherwise it would be a court case with testimony taken under oath. Unfortunately, innocent until proven guilty seems to be more an American legal ideal, than our practiced cultural custom.

Just wondering June 13th, 2007 | 2:28pm

Question for Looking for Logic - Do you know what he has told the detectives and what information the detectives have, or is your informaiton just based on rumor.

Skeptical June 13th, 2007 | 2:57pm

If Eric has nothing to hide why not tell Justine's parents the details that they so desperately are seeking. He does have more answers than he is giving them, they deserve to at least be privy to the last hours of their daughters life that he shared with her!

Looking for Logic June 13th, 2007 | 3:04pm

Post by Just Wondering. I have no information on anything said by Eric. However, it is impossible for anyone, except Eric, to know what he knows. Therefore, no one can possibly know if he has told everything that he knows.

Just Wondering June 13th, 2007 | 3:16pm

For skeptical - What makes you think that he hasn't given them all the details? Maybe he doesn't want to relive that moment over and over again.

For looking for logic - You are right, no one knows exactly what he has told the detectives, so what is the "sticking point?"

Looking for Logic June 13th, 2007 | 3:37pm

To Just wondering. I repeat, no one but Eric knows what he knows so how could ANYONE else know that he has told the Detectives everything he knows. Obviously the "sticking point" seem to be that some folks have reservations about him and therefore are wary that he has, in fact, told the authorities all that he knows.
The one fact we can all agree on is someone did cause Justine's death! There would be no "sticking point" if whomever was responsible for her death came forward and accepted that responsibility.

Skeptical June 13th, 2007 | 3:44pm

It seems that he would want to tell them EVERYTHING there is to tell in order for the timeline of events to actually add up, unless of course he is hiding something and can not ACCOUNT for his whereabouts.

Just Wondering June 13th, 2007 | 3:53pm

To Looking for Logic - I agree, only Eric knows what he knows so why is it that some people want to think that he hasn't told the detective everything he know, they don't know. And some folks have reservations about everything and everybody, people they don't know and even people they do know. And why would people be wary that he has, as you stated, told authorities all that he knows.

It would be good for the responsible party to come forward and put this all to rest.

Annoyed June 13th, 2007 | 4:06pm

If he had anything to hide why would he have admitted to arguing w/ her right before her death. Do you have any ideal how guilty he feels about letting her leave after the argument. He beats himself up everyday wondering why he didn't just open up to her about how upset and sad he was his mother was dying. His last conversation w/ her was only a few seconds long, just long enough for her to say she had broken down and to come get her. Try wearing that guilt on your shoulders everyday.

Looking for Logic June 13th, 2007 | 4:29pm

To Just Wondering. I don't believe you have reservations about everything and everybody if you ask questions about the husband in a investigation into a wife's death. Whenever a spouse is killed, the remaining spouse is frequently the primary suspect. Thus, Eric could be considered a suspect by any reasonable person. This would cause ever the most cautious person to conclude that he may not be telling the truth.

Someone please answer June 13th, 2007 | 4:31pm

Fact #1: Found dead on a road that leads to nowhere in the middle of the night.

Unknown: Why would she leave home at this hour after she had already called in sick for the next work day!

Fact #2: Justine called Eric and said she was having car trouble.

Unknown: Since she had only been on the road once in her life how did she know where to tell him to come pick her up? These are not well known highways!!
Did the car indead not start or run when the police showed up?

Fact #3: He went to get her on a motorcycle in 30 degree weather when there was a car in the driveway.

Unknown: Was he not planning on bringing her back or did he think he could fix the car? Does anyone ride a motorcycle in 30 degree weather in the middle of the night? Did his car not work?

Fact #4: SUV stolen from local dealership is of interest to police in hit and run.

Unknown: Was this vehicle used to run over the victim. This would not be hard to see! or would it?

Looking for Logic June 13th, 2007 | 4:31pm

To Just Wondering. I don't believe you have reservations about everything and everybody if you ask questions about the husband in a investigation into a wife's death. Whenever a spouse is killed, the remaining spouse is frequently the primary suspect. Thus, Eric could be considered a suspect by a reasonable person. This would cause ever the most cautious person to conclude that he may not be telling the truth.

Looking for Logic June 13th, 2007 | 4:33pm

Please excuse the double post.

Answer June 13th, 2007 | 4:43pm

To answer your question about how did she know where to tell him to come pick her up. His Aunt lives at the end of that road. Theres one answer for you!
Also he didn't have his car it was at the storage unit in Stanardsville. Sorry, two answers for you!

Convinced June 13th, 2007 | 4:44pm

Scott Peterson cried his eyes out too!! Oh yeah that was after he threw his pregnant wife into the ocean and went on a date with his girlfriend!!!

Convinced June 13th, 2007 | 4:47pm

Did he carry tools on the back of his bike to repair her car? Or did he have an extra helmet for her to wear home?

Someone please answer June 13th, 2007 | 6:11pm

I always keep my motorcycle at home in the winter and my car in storage! How convenient!

What we know June 13th, 2007 | 10:02pm

The police are the ones leading the investigation.

Certainly the police know more than they tell the newspapers or people in the community (Eric and her family included).

The parents volunteered a huge reward for YOUR information - which many of you seem to have.

Everyone telling the police what they know or think is the only way to bring peace to you, Eric and her family.

Help be part of the solution - the truth.

Answer June 14th, 2007 | 9:44am

For people who are avid motorcycle riders like Eric is, they ride their bikes whenever they get a chance and if you look back at the weather for Thurdsay November 2 you would see that it was around 58 degrees that day. Even my father rode his bike more this winter.
It's easy to sit at your keyboard and make assumptions and judge other people!

To Answer by Justice June 14th, 2007 | 10:23am

Dear Answer:

Question, do you also have reservations regarding why he would go to pick her up on his motorcycle? My answer, seems to be yes, you have already tried to create an alibi.

Also, you reference the tempeture that day. The article indicates that she was found around 1:40 a.m. not during the day. Does that mean that you have information to the contraire or that the facts are different then in the article?

To Answer by Justice June 14th, 2007 | 10:23am

Dear Answer:

Question, do you also have reservations regarding why he would go to pick her up on his motorcycle? My answer, seems to be yes, you have already tried to create an alibi.

Also, you reference the tempeture that day. The article indicates that she was found around 1:40 a.m. not during the day. Does that mean that you have information to the contraire or that the facts are different then in the article?

Answer June 14th, 2007 | 10:44am

I have not tried to create an alibi. The question was asked why was he on his bike. He had been riding that DAY. And then went to see his very ill mother in the hospital. Did you not read that. So you are as bad as the reporters who turn people's words around and that's why no one would comment to The Hook.

To Answer by Justice June 14th, 2007 | 10:51am

You forgot to reply regarding the weather or was that deliberate?

The truth will come out June 14th, 2007 | 1:37pm

The bottom line to all of this is--- People that are friends and family to Eric are going to take his side.
Everyone that knew Justine including her family know that there is something really wrong with that night. None of it makes sense. There are people out there that know what truly happened that night. Lies have a way a coming out. Yes, there are a lot of very sad and angry people that want to know the truth.

If Eric had nothing to do with all of this then it is too bad that there is so many things making him look guilty. It is really hard not to think he didn't do it. But you are right innocent until proven guilty.

Responsibility June 14th, 2007 | 3:35pm

The facts, as reported in the past two articles, leave more questions than answers. Someone out there has information that can bring tragedy into better focus. If you know something, gather the courage and speak up. It is your responsibility and obligation as an American to do so.

Responsibility June 14th, 2007 | 3:35pm

The facts, as reported in the past two articles, leave more questions than answers. Someone out there has information that can bring tragedy into better focus. If you know something, gather the courage and speak up. It is your responsibility and obligation as an American to do so.

Responsibility June 14th, 2007 | 3:35pm

The facts, as reported in the past two articles, leave more questions than answers. Someone out there has information that can bring tragedy into better focus. If you know something, gather the courage and speak up. It is your responsibility and obligation as an American to do so.

someone June 20th, 2007 | 6:51pm

i think there is some pretty funny stuff going on with this. to many unanswered questions? i used to work at lowes with eric and he seems like a trustworthy and nice person. it is a tragedy that has happened and i hope everyone finds the answers they are looking for

this is shady July 3rd, 2007 | 4:21pm

why in the world would the mother of his two children not have met Justine?? Using the motorcycle that night when she was supposedly having car trouble is insane! This guy is shady and I hope they arrest him soon!!

Obvious July 14th, 2007 | 11:26pm

The police will have certainly checked her cell phone to see if Justine indeed called Eric that night.

Curious August 14th, 2007 | 9:03am

Mr. Abshire pickes his kids up on a regular basis, he loves his girls. As for riding the bike at night, maybe he didn't see a need to go to the storage shed and get his car after leaving the hospital late at night, after sitting with his terminally ill mother, maybe he just decided to go home and get the car the next day, ever think about that.

I understand there was a car which had front end damage and later caught on fire (this car was housed in the same area where Mrs. Abshire was hit). The car has since disappeared. This was reported to the investigator but if an investigation was conducted no one knows. The investigator hasn't returned any phone calls Maybe the focus has been to much on Mr. Abshire and not enough on evidence that may have been destroyed.

I have also heard that there are inconsistencies in Mr. Abshire's story. Could anyone tell me what those inconsistencies are, I would really like to know, all I have heard people say is there are inconsistencies in his story, but What are they.....

IF YOU REALLY WANT TO KNOW August 15th, 2007 | 10:46pm

To Curious,

If you’re wondering about all the inconsistencies in Mr. Abshire’s story, all you have to do is read the press. Look at the website www.justineabshire.com and you can read about them. If he feels they are incorrect, all he has to do is pick up the phone and talk to Courtney or any of the other reporters following this story. They would love to hear him give his side of the story, but he does not seem willing to do so. It’s also “curious” that he does not seem to be doing anything about finding out who killed his new bride. He put up a few posters once or twice. Her family has gone to the media to try and get this solved; he stated himself in an interview with NBC29 in November that he would do whatever it took to find out who killed her. He said that he would go on TV once a week if he had to, to get the person who did this. Yet he has done NOTHING! Many of us are “curious” why that is so….

Just to clarify August 18th, 2007 | 7:48pm

Eric's "ex" has never, EVER threatened his visits with his daughters. Stop bringing innocent people into this debacle of a site. His "ex" has always encouraged her daughters to be open-minded and accepting of everyone they meet. You only have to meet them once to see that she has succeeded. Those girls loved Justine and you do a disservice to her and them by printing your garbage. Everyone on this site and The Hook should get the pleasure of being the topic of the week. I sincerely hope you get your share of what you are so happily dishing out. LEAVE INNOCENT PEOPLE ALONE! THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING! DO YOU PEOPLE HAVE NO DECENCY????????

Curious August 23rd, 2007 | 2:57pm

To: If you really want to know

I have read the articles and I can't find where he has told one reporter one story and another reporter a different story, as a matter of fact I don't see where he has told reporters anything, only what he has told the police and detectives. I did read that her parents say they do not feel that he is fortcoming but they have not elaborated on what the facts are or what he is not fortcoming about, again only hearsay. From what I have read and heard he has given the same information to everyone. So, give me an example of what is inconsistent. Something that is not hearsay, but something that you know for a fact.

Also what do you know about the car that was seen on the road that night and later caught on fire?

Just so you know September 10th, 2007 | 2:38pm

There was a car that was seen on the road that night, it had front end damage and a few days later caught on fire. This was reported to the investigator and the person who reported it was told that the investigator would look into it and call back. To date the investigator has not called back. It has been found out that the investigator who was assigned to the case is on long term leave and it is unknow if he ever reported this to his superiors. At this point the car is missing. This owner of the car resides in the area where Justine was hit. I just think this should have been checked out....

Hook Reader September 17th, 2007 | 7:43am

To The person who posted on 9/15

Why don't you start by sharing your name? Since you are the one that posted this brilliant suggestion, maybe it should start with you!

Hook Reader September 17th, 2007 | 8:11pm

People are not punished for their sins...but by them. People pay for what they do and for who they have allowed themselves to become...I believe that a certain person will be punished...time will tell all...

I miss and love you my dear friend...

Hook Reader September 27th, 2007 | 6:40am

Hey, what happened to all the posts? Their seem to be missing lots of tehm?

Hook Reader September 28th, 2007 | 8:02pm

This smelled from the beginning. He won't get away with it!

Heidi Swartz November 13th, 2007 | 10:59am

Thank you to all who turned out to remember our daughter with tears and laughter at the vigil. It means so much to us to know that she is still in your hearts, just as she is in ours.

We will continue to work for Justice for Justine, and hope that anyone who has any information that might be useful to the police will come forward. The reward stands and we will not quit.

As the days move forward, please keep her and the quest for justice in your hearts and the bracelets on your wrists to remind us all of her beautiful life and tragic death.

rationality November 14th, 2007 | 6:36pm

When you step back and look at this entire situation, yes, there are questions and some people have even offered answers (or possibilities and/or explanations of innocence.)
This world sees tragedy everyday, and some tragedies are simply unfathomable that someone could do something terrible to another person - often someone they loved!
I am not suggesting that Eric is guilty. I am not suggesting that he is innocent. But, as a guy, I know that some other guys are genuine trouble. A guy with a couple marks on his record for assault/battery (regardless if they happened in the past - unless it was juvenile) is someone either with a temper, or someone who is willing to fight someone when confronted/frustrated. That kind of guy is also one capable of violentally flipping out. Is this what happened on the night Justine died? Who knows, but those assault marks on his record don't sit well with me, even if that one person who previously posted says it's made out to sound worse than it really was...
As an acquiantence of Justine's, of course, I know my views can be seen as skewed towards her side. But, I am trying my best to keep an objective view. There is just too much evidence pointing to foul play surrounding Eric. Other tragedies happen with less "evidence" and circumstantial evidence, yet, are still solved, and that is the reason why I think this is pointing to Eric's guilt.
I think Eric should be fighting and proving his innocence/fighting for justice to show how dedicated he is to her and solving this tragedy. Instead, he seems to be hiding behind and depending on the judicial system to prove his guilt based solely on circumstantial evidence.

Familiar July 31st, 2008 | 12:40am

I think Eric's tears and sadness are real. I think he really does feel badly that Justine is gone. Just don't know if it's because he misses her, or he feels guilty that they had an argument before she was killed, or he's responsible for her death in some way (and regrets it).

I divorced a man that reminds me of Eric, esp. with regard to moods and behavior. My ex was also the most talented liar I have ever seen in my life.

Justine's behaviors (in the "tension" section of the article) are familiar to me because I went through the same thing with my ex because of his moods, behaviors, selfishness, being emotionally distant, etc. I did a lot of the things Justine did because I was being mentally and emotionally abused (and physically abused a few times).

Darren July 31st, 2008 | 3:47pm

sad, sad, story. eric appears not to care one way or the other. this story indicates mental and physical abuse upon Justine.

Sandy Lynn August 5th, 2008 | 3:08pm

It's only obvious this guy killed her. What I can't fathom, is how he hasn't been arrested. I would think that his statement that Justine called him saying her car broke down & come get her & when the cops got there, the car started up fine & & after checking it, NOTHING was wrong!

Right there, is evidence to arrest him. Her leaving the house at 1 am, sick & drowsy after taking cold medicine & phoning in ill to her job the next day, is ludicrous. A person would never have left at that time & so sick. They would have maybe slept in another room period & waited til the next day to make arrangements to leave if still angry.

And then she supposedly called him 20 min after leaving at 1 am?? If she was that angry, she would have called someone else to come get her. I still don't believe a person like her would have left because of the time & her being sick. She simply would have went to sleep in a different room away from him. And Not taking her coat or phone with her when she "supposedly" left her car to start walking down a dark unknown road in the middle of the nite?? And him not "thinking" to use HIS own phone or even HER phone that she'd supposedly just used to call him? Utter nonsense. He's not even smart at staging all this. He's a dumb criminal.

I saw the Primetime episode 2 nites ago & I know he did it. I've read true life crime & watched forensic files & true life murder documentaries for half my lifetime now (I'm 49) & believe me, you get a feel sometimes when someone is clearly guilty. He leaves her in the middle of the road after he stated on tv "he thought she was still alive"? If you think someone you love is still alive, you leave them in the middle of the road to get hit?? He WANTED someone to run over her. That's why he "forgot" their cell phones & took time to go to a house, hoping she'd get run over & that would clearly help him murdering her & staging the scene.

Look at their wedding picture. This is NOT a happy bride. Her smile is forced, no teeth showing, only obvious she's smiling a small tight smile cos she's supposed to. Her eyes look unhappy. I can't understand after all that I stated above, why he has not been arrested & why a jury isn't given the option to decide him guilty or innocent. And that doesn't even include the car he looked at that had a key missing. He also admits he has a terrible temper. I don't understand what she saw in him to begin with. He's not attractive at all, physically or personality wise. Plus he states he didn't want children since he already had 2. WHY would she want to marry him being the type of woman that is sweet & bubbly & loving & loves children? Total opposite of this creep.

It's been almost 2 yrs & I am absolutely appalled & SHOCKED that he has not at least been arrested. All this evidence above that I've stated is enough for a trial. They have put people on trial for murder & convicted them for much less evidence. The car not starting when there's nothing at all wrong with it should have been the 1st clue. Not using 2 freakin' cell phones or moving her body from a dark road when he thought she "might still be alive" is a 2nd big one.

And of course a call was made from her cell to him. He got to her phone & called his number. He had to have a reason why he reached her 1st to do this & also to put her in the road & stage the scene. The ONLY thing he could have used would be the "car broke down, come & get me". THAT was his excuse for being out at 1:20 AM & going to her. Gave him the opportunity to call his # on her cell & stage the scene. The cops in that town are total idiots that they haven't arrested him. A jury would find him guilty & that murdering ugly bastard would be in jail, hopefully on death row where he belongs.

Sandy Lynn August 5th, 2008 | 3:16pm

I also want to add that refusing to take a lie detector test also adds to his guilt. Innocent people would gladly want to take one to clear their name. Guilty people refuse even if it's not admissable.

He also refuses to talk to police, another sign of guilt. If he TRULY was innocent, he'd be doing everything he can, ESPECIALLY taking a polygraph to clear his name. He won't take the test because he's afraid he'd fail. Only obvious again. If you're truly innocent, WHY the heck would anyone refuse?? It would at least show the police & his & her family he's innocent. Her family quit associating with him after this refusal. I would have too. He may as well have just said "I did it" by refusing the lie detector. Another obvious admission of guilt. WHAT is wrong with those cops? I'd sure be angry at them, with all this evidence, & not even arresting him to let a jury decide. But, that's cops for ya.

TheRiteThing August 5th, 2008 | 8:47pm

There is someone out there, other than Eric or Jesse, that knows what happened to Justine. W****, I pray for you every night. I cant even imagine how scared you must be. Please dig down deep in your soul and find the courage to come forward with what you know. You know what time Jesse left the house to go help Eric. There are people that love you and will protect you and the kids from any harm. You need to think about your son and the one on the way. Dont you want more for them then to be raised in this drama? Say what you know, then, get those kids as far away from these killers as possible. You will find a new freedom. ~Peace

TheRiteThing August 6th, 2008 | 10:48am

Today is a new day… It doesnt matter that you have keep your lips sealed up to this point. You can choose to do the right thing TODAY! W****, The weight of the world is on your shoulders as long as you hold this secret in. Let it out, and the people that love you and care about you are here to help. Just think: If R***** was still here, what would he want you to do? My prayers are with you. ~Peace

Sandy Lynn August 6th, 2008 | 3:04pm

The post after mine reminded me that Jesse, the brother of dumb Eric, I believe helped him to stage the scene. Brotherly love is one thing, but when it comes to helping that brother get away with murdering a wonderful, good woman, is something I don't understand how another human being can do. Jesse's wife, can't remember on the program if he was married & with children, but assuming after next post he was, she would have to have some real good clues as to the murder. Nobody can act the same after helping a brother stage a scene of murder. That makes Jesse almost as bad as Eric.

No doubt Justine wanted to leave him & he felt he had to murder her to stop this. I'll NEVER NEVER understand how these men can murder their wives, instead of just letting them leave, & divorcing them. Most of them get caught anyway, especially when their "alibis" are as weak & stupid & just downright unbelievable & full of nonsense, such as Eric's. He's not very intelligent either if that's the best he could come up with.

The police must be taking their sweet time & gathering enough evidence to finally set their trap. I do think he will be arrested sooner than later & will stand trial for murder & be found guilty. I just hope TN imposes the death penalty & that ugly man inside & out will have to live with the fact that he will be killed himself one day. Lethal injection is too humane for him. For murderers such as him, the law should still impose the gas chamber & electric chair. Whoever came up with this lethal injection should have found something better to do with their time. I do not believe in being humane when it comes to murdering someone innocent that has done nothing to deserve it.

What in the world did that sweet pretty girl see in someone like Eric? Especially someone so unattractive, looks wise & personality, + selfish & self-centered that he can already have 2 children & yet tell a young schoolteacher he doesn't want anymore children & deny her any. She was a fool to marry him knowing this & knowing what a terrible temper he must have had. May justice be served for Justine one day soon. And may God help her family thru this horrible devastation & help them to heal.

TheRiteThing August 7th, 2008 | 10:00am

Today is new day... Could today be the day that someone comes forward with the TRUTH? I pray this is the day. ~Peace

Seeing Now September 19th, 2008 | 6:02pm

Wow, that was quite a read through, my heart breaks for Justine and for her family, may she rest in peace.

As for Eric, if you're reading this some lonely night with a beer in your hand, thinking back on that night Justine died, please FEEL IT, feel the pain of 113 body wounds and come forward and tell the truth.

Hook Reader July 23rd, 2009 | 1:49am

Scott Ryan October 17th, 2010 | 11:11am

I take it they 100% checked to make shore she was not pregnant, even 1 week pregnant.

he did not want to get married or have kids. he got married and she was not happy for 4 month leading up to the wedding, it almost seems like she was pregnant, even if it was 3 days pregnant. did she stop taking the pill / he found out and snapped.

sometimes things do not look good or odd up but, they are not and just can be that 1 in a billion things that don't add up. in this case with the husband, its the odds of 1 in a trillion. he clearly did have something to do with it in a very big way.

did his brother kill her as well. was we hitch hiking on the road and that's why he stopped.
the car was 100% fine and started up, she pulled over into the ambush.

was his brother or him waiting for her to drive down that road, knowing she will see his face, and stop. did he then make the phone call to make it look like her car broke down, and he was coming to pick her up.

clearly the police should no if it was a hit and run, and if she did die at that spot. you would see blood on the road & skin as well, for at least 5 to 50 meters.

its just way to clear that he killed her no matter what. and for him to kill her is was for something he never wanted to have / kid / she skipped the pill. or the money that now he is to scared to go to jail if he collects it.